Electric iron



Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,762 Y. MOORE Filed Sept. 26. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Oct. 30 1923. 1,472,762

Y. MOORE ELECTRIC IRON Filed Sept. 20. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

7 15 J3 T 13 41 1 #2 -1 N8 30 40 31 Fig. 7

Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YOUNG MOORE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MFSNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO LIBERTY ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

ELECTRIC IRON.

Application filed September 20, 1921. Serial No. 502,081.

T 0 all "whom it may conceqm Be it known that I, YOUNG Moons, a citizenof the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marionand State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Electric Iron, ofwhich the following is a specification.

It is the. object of m invention to simplify and make more e ective theconstruction of elect 'c irons; to provide an iron in which the heatingelement maybe made ofpre-formed helical coils of wire of great lengthandlarge cross-section, so that cheaper grades of wire having lowerresistance per unit of length can be used, and the wire can be worked ata lower temperature than is the common practice; to provide awire-carrier in which the p -f0nned coil may be laid in serpentine grodies, with the pitch ofithe helix different in different parts of thecarrier as desired to obtain the proper distribution of heat; to makesuch wire carrier of molded insulation; to provide a complete ironstructure the parts of which are held together'by the same screw orscrews, the removal of which allows the dismantling of the wholestructure; and to make the base of the iron project laterally beyond thecovering shell, and effectively heat such projecting base, so thatruffles and plaits may be effectively pressed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1 is aperspective View of a complete iron embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section through such iron, substantially on the line 2--2of Fi 4; Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantial y on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the molded block or wirecarrier; Fig.5 is a bottom view of the winding which is carried by such block,showing the different spacings vof the turns of the winding atdifl'erent parts of the iron; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section similarto Fig. 2, showing a modified construction, especlall adapted for thelarger sizes of irons;'Fig. is a section on the line 7-7 of 6; and Fi 8is a perspective view, on a'smaller sea e, of the cover-block ofimulatlng material in ,the modified form siown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The iron has a base plate I), which projects laterally at all lnyond theremainder of the iron, to hm an extension '11, which is particularly anIOI'JIOIllIlg plaits and I'uflles' and "for getting into corners. Thebase 10 has one or more upwardly projecting lugs 12, two being shown,

which are providedat their upper ends with threaded holes for receivingtwo screws 13. by hwhich the whole iron is clamped toget er.

f A molded block 15, of insulating material, rests on the base 10, beinprovided with holes 16 through which t e lugs 12 extend; The under faceof this molded block 15 is provided with an open serpentine groove 17,which winds and weaves back and forth, preferably in a generallongitudinal direction, and which has a portion 17' lying right in ,thepoint of the block 15. The groove 17 has no sharp bends, but its partsare wholly connected b curves, and it covers substantially the who e ofthe under face of the block15. The two ends of the continuous serpentinegroove 17 lead into two recesses 18, at the rear of the block 15, inwhich recessesare located the binding nuts 19 of terminal pins 20 whichare mounted in the rear end of the block 15 and project obliquelyrearwardly upwardly therefrom. These terminal pins are ordinary terminalpins upon which an ordinary heater connector may be pushed to connectthe iron or from which said connector may be pulled to disconnect theiron. The outer clamping nuts 21 of the terminal pins 20 are seated inrecesses in a boss 22 provided at the rear upper corner of the moldedblock 15. The block 15 is preferably made of porcelain formed of flintclay and feldspar as'the base thereof.

A 'continuous helical coil 25 of wire is laid free in theserpentinegroove 17, and has'its 'two ends connected to the two terminal' pins 20within the recesses 18. This helical coil is pre-formed, so that it maybe wound very rapidly on standard coil-forming machines, and cut intothe pro 1' length; and is of proper diameter so t at when it'is, laid inthe groove 18 it does not project beyond the under surface of the moldedinsulating block 15. The wire used for the coil 25 is of suitableresistance material, but the cheaper resistance material may be used,because by the use of this continuous helical coil 0. great length ofwire all the other forms of heating units. The wire of the coil 25 maybe here wire, as'I have found that even thou h adjacent turns of thecoil touch one anot er there is no short-circuiting of coils because theoxidation on the surface of the wire is suflicient insulation to takecare of the low voltage between adjacent turns under any slight contactpressure which may exist between them. The helical coil 25 is continuousthrough the whole length of the serpentine groove 17, the curves of suchooves permitting this,

but the spacing of t e turns of the coil may be more dense at someplaces than at others, as at the point of the iron, and to a somewhatless extent along the outer edges of the molded block 15, to produce areater' heating effect at such point and e ges to take care of heatingthe extension 11 of the base plate 10. This spacing of'the coils may beeasily obtained in laying the coils in the groove 17.

When the helical coil 25 has been laid in the groove 17 and connected tothe terminal pins 20, the block 15 with such coil is placed over thelugs 12, so that its under coil-containing face lies close against theupper surface of the base 10. If desired, a thin sheet 26 of mica orother sheet insulation may be interposed between the block 15 and thebase 10, but such sheet may be omitted if desired. Then an enclosingshell 27 is placed over the block 15, such shell conveniently beinformed of a onepiece metal stampin whichas holes to permit the assagetheret rough of the screws 13 and a arge hole at the rear to permit thepassage therethrough of the boss 22. The shell 27 rojects downwardaround the outer edge oi the block 15, into close proximity to theextension 11 of the base 10, preferably over a shoulder 28 which may beprovided near the edge of such base to assist in centering and holdingthe shell, and lessening the strain on the screws 13 and lugs 12, thoughsuch shell does not necessarily touch such base; but the extension 11 ofthe base projects laterally a considerable distance beyond the outerface of the shell 27, as is clear from all the figures.

A handlesupporting clip 30, of general U-shape, with a wooden handle 31mounted between its up-turned ends, is clamped upon the top of the shell27 by the screws 13. Suitable heat-insulating washers 32 may beinterposed between the clip 30 and the shell 27, and other yieldingheat-insulatin washers 33 may be interposed between t e shell 27 and thebosses 12 and the molded block 15, so that when the screws 13 aretightened arts are clamped firmly together, with suc ielding of thewashers'33 as'may be require and yet the shell 27 and handle supportinclip 30 are not in heat-conducting contact with the lugs 12 of the base10, and the heating of such shell and clip will be greatly reduced, andin addition the possi bility of breakage of the block 15 is lessened bythe cushioning effect of the washers 33.

By removing the screws 13, the whole iron may be dismantled, by simplylifting apart the several elements thereof; so that access is readilyobtained to all the parts for inspection and repair. By reversing theoperation, the iron is easily assembled.

In order further to keep the shell 27 and clip 30 cool, I may use theconstruction shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. Here I interpose between themolded block 15 and the shell 27 a second molded block 40, which restsupon the block 15 upon which in turn the shell 27 rests. As before, theparts are all clamped together by the same clamping screw or screws 13.The two molded blocks 15 and 40 need not bear upon each other throughouttheir whole adJacent surfaces, but may be spaced apart at certainpoints, as at bosses 41 around the lugs 12. The second molded block 40is hollow on its under side, so that it fits over and extends downaround the molded block 15, with air spaces between. so that additionalheat insulation is provided for the shell 27.. The rear end of thesecond molded block 40 is cut away to allow the projection of the boss22 in which the terminal pins 20 are mount 'ed. The shell 27 ispreferably spaced from the block 40, as it is from the block 15 in thearrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3 inelusive, by the yielding washers33.

It will be seen that by placing the wire in the groove in the mannerdescribed unobstructed expansion and contraction of the wire ispermitted so that the danger of the wire breaking us is frequently thecase when the wire is embedded in the insulating material is prevented.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric iron, comprising a plate, 'a molded block of insulatingmaterial resting upon Sllth plate, said molded block having a continuousserpentine groove in its under face, said serpentine groove beingcomposed of parts extending generally lengthwise of the 1ron,'acontinuous helical coil of wire laid free in such serpentine oove, anopen-bottom metal shell enclosing. such molded block. and clamping meansfor clamping said shell to said base with the molded block between them.

2. An electric iron, comprising a base plate, a molded block of insulatimaterial resting upon such plate, said mo ded block having a continuousserpentine groove in its under face, a continuous helical coil of wirelaid free in such serpentine groove, an openbottom metal shell enclosingsuch molded block. and clam ing means for clamping said shell to saidase with the molded block between them.

' such plate, said molded block 3. An electric iron, comprising a baseplate, a molded block of insulatin material resting upon such plate,said mo ded block having a continuous serpentine groove in its underface, a continuous helical coil of wire laid free in such 'serpentinegroove, terminal pins mounted in said molded block and connected totheends of said coil, an open-bottom metal shell enclosing such moldedblock, said shell being provided with an opening for such terminal pins,and clamping means for clamping said shell to said base with the moldedblock between them.

4. An electric iron, comp-rising a base having one or more upwardlyprojecting lugs,'a molded block of insulatin material resting upon'saidbase and provi ed with a hole or holes through which said lugs extend,said molded block having an open groove in its under face, a helicalcoil of wire laid free in such groove, a handle and a support therefor,and clamping screws passing through said support into said lugs forclamping said support and base together with the molded block betweenthem.

5. An electric iron, comprising a base having one or more upwardly proectin lugs, a molded block of insulatin materia restin upon said baseand provided with a hole or lioles through which said lugs extend, saidmolded block having an open groove in its under face, a'helical coil ofwire laid free in such groove, :1 metal shell surmounting said moldedblock and extendin downward around the edge thereof, a handle and asupport therefor, and clamping screws passing through said support intosaid lugs for clamping said support and base to ether with the moldedblock and said meta shell between them.

6. An electric iron, com rising a base plate, a molded block of insuating material of suitable dielectric strength resting upon having aserpentine groove in its under face, a continuous helical coil of wirelaid free in such serpentine groove, an open-bottom metal shellenclosing such mo ded block, and clamping means for clampin said shellto said base with the molded b ock between them, the turns of said coilbeing more thickly spaced near the edge of said block than near themiddle thereof.

7. An electric iron, plate, a molded blockof resting upon such plate,said molded block havin a serpentine groove in its under face, acontlnuous helical coil of wire laid free in such serpentine groove, anopen-bottom metal shell enclosing such molded block, and clamping meansfor clampin said shell to said base with the molded lock between them,said base and said molded block being pointed and the turns of said coilbeing comprising a base insulating material more thickly spaced in saidgroove near said point than at other places.

8. An electric iron, comprising a base plate, a molded block ofinsulating material resting upon such plate, said molde'l block having aserpentine groove in its under face, a continuous helical coil of wirelaid free in such serpentine groove, an, open-bottom metel shellenclosing such molded block, and clamping means for clamping said shellto said base with the molded block between them, said base and saidblock being pointed, and said serpentine groove winding close to thepoint of said molded block.

9. An electric iron, comprising a base, a

'molded porcelain block upon said base, said block having a groove inits under face, a helical coil of wire laid free in said groove, aprotecting shell, a handle and its supporting clip, and means common toall of said parts for fastening the same together.

10. An electric iron, comprising a base, a molded block of insulatingmaterial thereupon, said molded block being provided with an open groovein its under face, a helical coil of wire laid free in said groove, asecond molded block restin upon the first block, an enclosing metal sheI overlying said second molded block and projecting down around theedges of said two blocks, a handle and its supporting clip, and meansfor clampin said handle to said base late with said she I and two moldedblocks etween them.

11. An electric iron, comprising a base, a molded block of insulatingmaterial thereupon, said molded block being provided with an open groovein its under face, a helical coil of wire laid free in said groove, :1.second molded block resting upon the first block, said second moldedblock being hollow on its under face so that its edges project downaround the first molded block, an enclosin metal shell overlying saidsecond molded block and projecting down around the edges of said twoblocks, and means for clamping said shell to said base plate with twomolded blocks between them.

12. An electric iron, com rising a base plate, a molded block of insuatin material resting upon such plate, said mo ded block havin aserpentine groove in its under face, a continuous helical coil of wirelaid free in such serpentine roove, an open-bottom metal shell enclosingsuch molded block, a handle and its supporting clip, and clamping meansfor clamping said clip to said base with the shell and the molded blockbetween them.

13; An electric iron, comprisin a base, a molded porcelain block uponsai base, said block having a continuous groove in its under face, acontinuous helical coil of wire laid free in said groove, a rotectingshell, and means for fastening al said parts together.

III

Ill

14. An electric iron, comprising a base, a molded block of insulatinmaterial thereupon, said molded block being provided with an open roovein its under face, a helical coil of wire laid free in said groove, asecond molded block resting upon the first block, an enclosing metalshell overlying said second molded block and pro'ecting down around theedges of said two blocks, and means for clamping said shell to said baseplate with two molded blocks between them.

15. An electric iron, comprising a base plate, a molded block of insuating material resting upon such plate, said molded block having aserpentine groove in its under face, a continuous coil of wire laid freein such serpentine groove, an open-bottom metal shell enclosing suchmolded block, and clamping means for clampin said shell to said basewith the molded ilock between them, said last plate having a shouldernear its edge on its upper face over which shoulder the edge of saidshell extends.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis,Indiana, this 10th day of September, A. D. one thousand nine hundred andtwenty-one.

YOUNG MOORE.

